Simulation of Fire Evacuation using Pathfinder Program: A Case Study of Hotel Building, Kasetsart University Sriracha Campus

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to simulate fire evacuation using the Pathfinder program in a case study of a hotel building at Kasetsart University’s Sriracha Campus. The objective was to propose guidelines and improvements for fire exits in accordance with Ministerial Regulation No. 33 and NFPA 101, Life Safety Code 2018, to ensure occupant safety. The building had an occupant load of 2,908 people, and the simulation was conducted across four different fire scenarios. Regarding total building evacuation time, Scenario S23 showed the shortest evacuation time at 1,237.3 seconds, while Scenario S14 recorded the longest at 2,395.3 seconds. Scenarios S24 and S34 had evacuation times of 1,262.5 and 1,351 seconds, respectively. During some scenarios, occupant movement was impacted by congestion, particularly near stairways and exit doors. To mitigate congestion and improve evacuation flow, it is recommended to expand staircases, enlarge exit doors, and add additional exits. All four simulated scenarios demonstrated evacuation times below 3,600 seconds (1 hour), thereby meeting the legal requirement under Ministerial Regulation No. 33. Although the simulation results complied with relevant safety standards, further enhancements are recommended to optimize evacuation efficiency and improve safety for all building occupants in the event of a fire.